The winner of two Tony awards including Best Score, Disney’s Newsies will make its Philippine debut courtesy of Globe Live and 9 Works Theatrical, featuring a creative team and cast of the best talent across the Philippines
Disney’s 2012 runaway hit musical, Newsies, ran on Broadway for two years. It ran for 1,005 performances and in that time garnered over 24 theatrical nominations including the Drama Desk, Outer Circle Critics Awards, and a total of eight Tony awards. It won Best Score for Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, and Best Choreography for Christopher Gattelli. This high-energy musical inspired by the true-to-life events of the “Newsboy Strike of 1899” is a show about social injustice, exploitative labor conditions, and the power of protesting against large-scale corrupt establishments.
Newsies was first produced as a motion picture musical in 1992, starring Christian Bale. The movie found a dedicated audience called “Fansies,” who pushed for a live stage adaptation. The clamor was so strong that Disney Theatrical Productions brought the stage musical to life, with Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy) writing the book, and original composers Alan Menken and Jack Feldman adding new songs. Newsies premiered in Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 before Disney Theatrical brought it to Broadway the following year.
The show follows the charismatic newsboy Jack Kelly, a leader of a gang of “Newsies,” who “dreams of a better life far from the hardships of the streets.” From his humble beginnings, Jack Kelly becomes an activist who rallies the newsboys to protest against the rising distribution rates put forward by publishing giants Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. From newsboys to activists, the musical dramatizes the David-versus-Goliath fight for social justice and better working conditions.
Playing the lead role of Jack Kelly is recording artist, singer, actor and 9 Works Theatrical mainstay Gian Magdangal, who has just come back from a stint at Hong Kong Disneyland’s The Golden Mickeys and Universal Studios Japan. Joining him as part of the newsboys are Jef Flores (recent Gawad Buhay awardee for Outstanding Lead Actor for Tick, Tick…BOOM! ), Daniel Drilon (Secret Garden, Fun Home), Tory Cortez (Hansel and Gretel, A Christmas Carol), Luis Marcelo (Little Shop of Horrors), and Alex Diaz (Host & TV Personality, MYX VJ). Also in the cast are Danielle Chopin (Into the Woods, My Fair Lady), Greg Dulcie (The Wizard of Oz, Sweeney Todd), Pinky Marquez (The Wedding Singer, Beauty and the Beast), and Raymund Concepcion (Annie, The Little Mermaid).
Rounding up the cast are Franz Imperial, Ariel Reonal, Joni Galeste, Melissa Bell, Ian Ocampo, Ronelson Yadao, Erick Arenas, Jourdan Bartolome, Mark Anthony Grantos, Jim Ferrer, Chesko Rodriguez, Kendrick Ibasco, Anton Posadas, Stephen Viñas, Clark dela Riva, Jon Abella, MC dela Cruz, Vyen Villanueva and Jan Mayo.
Globe Live and 9 Works Theatrical’s production of Disney’s Newsies is directed by Robbie Guevara, together with PJ Rebullida as choreographer, Franz Imperial as assistant director, Daniel Bartolome as musical director, Yek Barlongay additional choreography for tap, Ed Lacson as set designer, Eric Pineda as costume designer, Martin Esteva as lighting designer, GA Fallarme as video & projection designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup designer and Dong Calingacion as technical director.
Heading the production team are executive producers Joe Caliro (Globe Live) and Santi Santamaria (9 Works Theatrical), Denise Seva (Globe Live Director for Events and Production), with 9 Works Theatrical’s Anna Santamaria as company manager, Jonjon Martin and Issa Tuason as PR managers, GM Hernandez as marketing manager, and Arma Bonilla as stage manager.
Newsies will be staged at the Globe Iconic Store Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater, Bonifacio Global City on July 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 & 28-30, 2017 at 8:00pm.
For tickets and more information, go to go.globe.com.ph/newsies, or contact Ticketworld at 891.9999.
